30 Nov 2023

MacArthur Lock closing for seasonal repair, maintenance

AULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock will close for the Navigation Season 7 a.m. Dec. 17, 2023, through April 24, 2024, to perform dam safety inspections and routine maintenance. The Poe Lock will remain open until Jan. 15, 2024, or until commercial traffic ceases, whichever occurs first. The Soo Locks operating season is fixed by federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440). “The 800-foot-long MacArthur Lock, built in 1943, is 80 years old; the maintenance period is critical to keeping the lock in operation during the shipping season,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said.

21 Nov 2023

High winds, storms, wave action increase hazards

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, urges caution around Great Lakes harbor piers and breakwaters, particularly during high wind and wave events. Accidents can occur near harbor structures during turbulent weather late in the year. The lakeshore attracts residents and visitors who may not be aware of the powerful impacts strong winds and storms can bring to shorelines and harbor structures. “Although breakwater structures are built for navigation, they are often used for recreation,” said Chief of Operations and Maintenance Branch, Cindy Jarema. “Walking along breakwater structures can be hazardous – surfaces may be slippery and uneven, and wave action increases the risk of injury or falling into the water.”

27 Sep 2023

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center celebrates 50 years

DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth, Minnesota celebrates 50 years with an event Thursday, September 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center and the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association will host a celebration with refreshments, a look back at the history of the Visitor Center including photos, old park ranger uniforms and some rarely-before-seen artifacts from the collection.

15 Sep 2023

Army Corps to keep Crooked River Lock in Alanson closed to complete repairs

The Crooked River Lock in Alanson, Michigan will remain closed for the remainder of the season to perform critical maintenance this fall. This decision was made Thursday, September 14, 2023 between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) and Emmet County leadership for the safety of the public. Replacement parts for a faulty safety relay allowing the lock to reliably open and close remain on backorder. The Detroit District, in conjunction with Emmet County, which operates the lock under an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, decided Thursday to close the lock early for the season for safety of the public, and to conduct a thorough inspection and development of a robust repair plan to prevent unscheduled 2024 closures.

26 Aug 2023

Army Corps working to restore Crooked River Lock in Alanson, Michigan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) is working to restore operations to the Crooked River Lock in Alanson, after an electrical malfunction the evening of Thursday, Aug. 24, caused the lock to be shutdown to recreational boat traffic. Replacement parts for an obsolete safety module are expected by Sept. 15 to restore the lock to full functioning capability. Boaters will not be able to navigate between Crooked River and Crooked Lake during this time

12 Jul 2023

Detroit District accepting entries for annual photo contest

DETROIT- The Detroit District invites photographers to enter its 8th annual photo contest highlighting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites across the Great Lakes. The top 12 photographs highlighting Detroit District Great Lakes projects such as the Soo Locks, Duluth Ship Canal, piers, breakwaters or federal channels and harbors will earn a spot in the 2024 downloadable calendar. The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. July 21, with winners determined by social media vote. The Soo Locks Visitors Center Association will award the top three photographers a plaque featuring their photo.

12 Jul 2023

Corps of Engineers begins structure maintenance in Charlevoix

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will begin planned maintenance work in the navigation channel in Charlevoix, Michigan this month to replace deteriorating timber fenders along the channel revetments. The repairs are funded through a Fiscal Year 2023 Work Plan budget package of $530,000 and will be used to replace 1,100 feet of timber fenders along the north and south channel revetment walls. The timber fenders protect the structures from vessel impact. The existing weathered timber fenders along the revetments are beyond their design life and require replacement.

11 Jul 2023

U.S. Army Corps resumes Grand Haven dredging with additional E.coli testing

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) will resume dredging in Grand Haven Harbor on Wednesday, July 12, with additional testing for E. Coli and safety measures. King Co. Inc., under an Army Corps contract, will dredge the remaining 35,000 of 141,000 cubic yards of sediment contracted to be removed from the outer harbor in Grand Haven to keep the commercial channel navigable throughout the remainder of the year. The Army Corps paused dredging at the location Friday, July 7, out of an abundance of caution after the Ottawa County Health Department issued a “no body contact” warning because of high concentrations of E. coli at North Park Beach in Ferrysburg. The remaining dredging will take about seven days to complete, weather dependent

7 Jul 2023

U.S. Army Corps pauses Grand Haven dredging in response to E.coli concerns

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) is pausing dredging in Grand Haven, Michigan in response to Ottawa County Health Department’s “no-contact order” for North Park Beach after preliminary testing found E.coli concentrations in the area. Dredging will be paused in the area until testing results show the E.coli levels have naturally dissipated. Holland-based King Co. Inc., under an Army Corps contract, is currently dredging in Grand Haven Harbor to remove 141,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Grand Haven Harbor federal navigation channel. The dredging was expected to be completed in mid to late July. The material is being placed at an area north of the harbor, which includes the shoreline at Ottawa County North Beach Park, in accordance with a water quality certificate issued by Michigan Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

5 Jul 2023

Crooked River Lock restored to full operation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District (USACE) fully restored operations Wednesday morning, July 5, to the Crooked River Lock in Alanson, Michigan. Specialized lock and dam maintainers from the Soo Locks arrived Monday evening to respond to concerns about the lower lock gate not opening when a brake malfunctioned and seized, not allowing the gate to move, shutting down the lock ahead of the popular boating July 4th holiday. Emmet County operates the USACE-owned lock through partnerships with the Corps of Engineers and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Crooked River Lock ensures water levels are maintained through the Inland Waterway system, providing recreational boating opportunities for thousands of Northern Michigan residents each year. The locks perform about 10,000 lockages per year.